A personal tribute to Joep Oomen

Joep's passing has brought deep sadness, and a feeling of being greatly honored by his friendship.  For having shared time & space and purpose with such a warm-hearted person, years ago in Europe and through our on-line correspondence, I am truly grateful. My thoughts are with Joep, his family, and with you all, in this time of enormous, unexpected sorrow. 

For whatever comfort there may be, it seems that Joep's was a peaceful passing. For this I am also grateful. Gentle souls deserve gentle transition. 

We have lost several dear friends and colleagues from the drug policy reform community in this past year. The impact of their deaths seem to increase with each great person, suddenly being gone. Because Joep was so centrally connected within the international network, and a master communicator and diplomat well-liked by so many, his leaving is a global tragedy as well as a personal one.

It occurred to me that honoring Joep's life and accomplishments at UNGASS in New York could be what it takes to inspire a heart-centered pressure-point for ending all prohibitions of ALL herbs that bear seeds. I am convinced that the most fundamental, simplest, succinct, time-efficient, comprehensive, legitimate, federal U.S., global emergency preparedness protocol for achieving World Herb Solidarity is "essential civilian demand" for "every green herb." 

Drugs don't make seeds. Herbs do. Our freedom to farm "every herb bearing seed" is the first test of religious freedom. Regardless of what any of us believes or doesn't believe about "God," religious freedom is a legitimate, international legal issue, that encompasses our freedom to farm Cannabis, Coca, and every other herb.